Tuesday, November 27, 2007

John McClane and Snow Days

It's Tuesday already? Wow, time flies, doesn't it? I hope your week has started off well.

You may be keeping tabs on the latest poll about Christmas specials. Apparently a few have strong feelings about this issue. ...And despite some thoughts to the contrary (ahem), "Die Hard" is not a Christmas movie, no matter how hard (ha ha) you men campaign! There, I've said it. Will you ladies back me up?

Goodness, how do I transition from that topic to this post's main topic? I'm not sure there is an effective way, so I'll just jump into it. Did you get snow this last week where you live? Much of the region here saw snow--anywhere from two to 12+ inches. Ahhh....a white Thanksgiving. I'll take it! Thanksgiving Day we were able to gaze out of large windows as big, fluffy flakes drifted down and enrobed everything.

Our dog, Daisy, preferred to run around in it instead of just watching. She bounded around the white yard, would slow some, then abruptly bury her long nose about two inches down in the snow. Doing this always seemed to start a launch sequence: with a miniature mountain on her nose, she would suddenly take off like a NASCAR driver, racing furiously in circles against invisible canine competitors. When she came inside, the yard looked like a snowy version of crop circles.

...But before she was unleashed on the untouched snow, everything looked perfect. Have you ever noticed that snow tends to beautify and highlight things around you that you normally don't see? Everything is different in white. Here's an example: on the property of where I worked my previous job, an ordinary evergreen tree stood near the road. I passed it hundreds of times as I hurried back and forth from work assignments, but I hardly ever really looked at it. Because of my haste it might as well have been invisible, despite the fact that I love to look at trees.

But then a couple of times a year something magical would happen... A dusting of snow would grace the land, and that tree suddenly became breathtaking. I marveled at its beauty, driving a little more slowly just to drink it in a few seconds longer. Each individual, delicate branch was showcased because of the dazzling white. I wondered at not noticing the tree more often, and I smiled at the sight.

That reminds me of the wonder of how God transforms our lives. On our own we may be ordinary like that tree. Seemingly nothing special. We can choose to start a relationship with Him, though, and He transforms us -- instantly and literally. Our loving Father showers on us the costly, whiter-than-snow gift of His righteousness and love. We are now different. And like the tree, who we really are becomes undeniably evident. We are who He created us to be all along... for the purpose of showcasing His glory.

And He smiles at the sight.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

Sunday, November 25, 2007

A post about nothing (almost)

For you are the words ever right there on the tip of your tongue, but you just can't get them out?

I have a couple of posts stirring around in my mind. It's just a little too late right now to think (or write) them coherently. Hopefully I'll have one posted Monday morning. Now, doesn't that make your week so much easier to start? =) In the meantime, meander on down to the new poll. Hope you had a wonderful weekend.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

A Thanksgiving Hmmm...


I couldn't resist one more haiku in honor of Thanksgving. Have a wonderful day of gratefulness!

Thanksgiving is for

ev'ryone ...creatures as well
...tur-duck-en is served

Friday, November 16, 2007

Haiku-a-Thon...the Finale! (or Finally?)

Here is the conclusion to this week's haiku jamboree. In the midst of busy days and life's concerns, I hope that in a small way this has been a temporary reprieve. Have a great weekend.

Quiet, deafening--
Countless droplets sound applause

like liquid worship

(With Daniel's permission--thanks, Dan!)
Gleaming expanse shines
in Mr. Clean-like glory
...Brother-in-law's head


Spectators cheer for
what seems like eternity--

Cloud of witnesses

Haiku Hibernation

In case you're following the haiku fandango this week, you've probably noticed that new ones haven't appeared the last couple of days. I wish I had some interesting reason, like uncovering a local underground mime ring... or threats from a rival haiku-writing blog (which I suspect is related to the Van Buren Boys, for those of you who of know them). Nope, it has just been things like work and dilated eyes. Anyway, I'll post a plethora of haikus later today. Stay tuned!

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Haiku-a-Thon, Day Four

The fourth day's haiku pays homage to the winner of the latest poll, the best scented candle never made...

Aroma marine
Gorton's bearded laborer
--Foul market o' fish

Monday, November 12, 2007

Haiku-a-Thon, Day Tres


Fingers of light grasp,

Pulling back the sleep-covers
...The land breathes, wakens


Sunday, November 11, 2007

Haiku-a-Thon, Day Two


Here we go with the second day of the one-week Haiku-a-Thon. Since this is a special occasion, today's offerings come in honor of our nation's veterans and their families.

A grateful nation
offers feeble thanks for that

which remains priceless



Carefree children laugh --
Melodious tributes to

higher sacrifice

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Haiku du jour

Mornez mahaha.
--What? You've never heard "good morning" in Bridigian, the language of western Ireland? =) Oh, okay, I'll admit that I'm not that smart-- a previous job is where I learned that oh-so-useful phrase.

I hope that you are enjoying a good weekend. This upcoming week will be a liiiitle different here in Blogopolis. I've been challenged to post a haiku a day for the next week. The gauntlet has been thrown down. So...(sound of echoing bugle call) let the First Annual November Haiku-a-Thon begin! And if anyone cares to join in, we can even have a Haiku Off. (cue "West Side Story" music with snapping)

80s trivia
Makes me feel quite trivial

Newhart's "dream bathroom"?

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Sweet Justice


Just a quick note to let you know the results of the fall sports poll-- hockey wins! And, no, I didn't vote more than once despite popular opinion to the contrary (I simply pay off people well). If it makes you feel any better, football fans, football did make a courageous rush for the end zone, only to be met at the five yard line by fight-hungry hockey players. Well, at least most football players have all of their teeth.

This is an autographed picture of my favorite hockey player, former Dallas Stars goalie Ed ("The Eagle") Belfour. He was a feisty one and helped the Stars win the Stanley Cup in 1999. Ah, those were the days.
Anyone else have some favorite sports memories?

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Reese's Snickerbutter Cups

The poll about the best candy ended in heated debate (well, as heated as you can get in a simple blog poll). It came down to Reese's and Snickers, with Reese's winning by a cup--er, nose. Insider info tells me, though, that a certain person voted more than once for their favorite. I guess they may have been worried that my favorite, Almond Joy, would win out. Probably not. Ahhh, in today's world isn't it nice sometimes to take a break and talk about pointless things?

...Which leads me to a big change of subject. David and I have a friend named Joe who is a missionary many thousands of miles away. This morning David mentioned to me that Joe now has a U.S. phone number that calls his phone in his apartment. Amazing! We could be connected to our friend fairly instantly, the gap closed without international operators, etc. I have almost no reason not to keep in touch.
But I've never had a reason not to pray for Joe and the people God touches through him. Isn't it so easy to forget to pray for our brothers and sisters across the world? And so many live in danger daily just for taking the name of Christ.
It's encouraging to me to hear of their faith and bravery. And we can be an encouragement to them--even if their faces and names won't be known to us until heaven. Each time we intercede for them in prayer, we instantly join God as He wraps His strengthening arms of love and comfort around each precious one.

(By the way, you can go to Joe's web site here.)